Despite smart city status, women in Srinagar still lack access to adequate public toilets

Srinagar: Despite being a designated smart city, the shortage of functional public toilets in Srinagar, particularly for women, remains a pressing issue.
The absence of ‘pink toilets’—exclusive restroom facilities for women—has made it difficult for many to find safe and hygienic washrooms, especially in busy markets and tourist areas.
According to a 2022 survey by local NGOs, less than 20% of public toilets in Srinagar were functional. Many remain locked, lack running water and soap, or are poorly maintained, making them unsafe for use. Furthermore, as per Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines, there should be one toilet per 100 women and one per 250 men in public spaces. However, Srinagar falls short of this standard, leaving residents and tourists with limited options.
The shortage is particularly evident in commercial hubs like Lal Chowk, where heavy footfall is recorded daily, yet public restrooms remain scarce. Similarly, at popular tourist destinations such as Dal Lake and Mughal Gardens, tourists often struggle to find clean sanitation facilities. The situation is even worse in older parts of the city like Nawakadal and Downtown, where public washrooms are almost nonexistent.
Locals have expressed frustration over the lack of basic sanitation. “Public toilets are either locked or in an unhygienic state,” said Mehvish, a resident of Rajbagh. Farzana, another local, added, “In other cities, public washrooms are available every two kilometers, but here, we have to rely on restaurants and private establishments.”
Tourists also face difficulties due to the absence of public restrooms. “Many of us plan trips considering comfort and accessibility. When essential facilities like washrooms are missing or unusable, it affects the experience,” said Poonam, a visitor from Delhi. Rahul, a tourist from Rajasthan, shared a similar concern. “We had to leave Dal Lake early because my wife and daughter couldn’t find a proper restroom,” he said. Meghna, a tourist from Bengaluru, added, “We walked through the main market for hours but couldn’t find a clean toilet. Eventually, we had to request access to a cafe’s washroom.”
The issue also raises health concerns, as the lack of clean sanitation facilities forces people to compromise on hygiene, increasing the risk of infections and other related illnesses.
Interestingly, the public toilets in Srinagar are jointly managed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL). Under the Smart City project, 25 toilet blocks were planned, with 11 already handed over to SMC, while 14 remain under SSCL’s management.
“We have transferred 11 toilet blocks to SMC, and 14 more are pending. They are under maintenance and are 90% complete. They will be handed over to SMC soon,” said a senior SSCL official.
An SMC official said setting up new facilities in congested areas is difficult. “However, we are working on adding more toilets this year. Maintenance is also being prioritized to keep existing public toilets clean and accessible,” the official said.
Notably, in December 2024, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu told Parliament that Jammu & Kashmir had made remarkable progress under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM). According to the minister’s statement in response to a query, out of the 291 projects sanctioned for J&K, 261 projects have been successfully completed, marking an impressive 90% completion rate. In Srinagar alone, 164 projects were approved under the Smart Cities Mission, with 144 completed at an expenditure of Rs 3,312 crore.
Despite this progress, inadequate public sanitation remains a glaring issue. As work under the Smart City initiative continues, residents hope for better public facilities. Until then, the shortage of clean and accessible toilets remains a daily challenge for both locals and tourists.